On August 12, 2019 I was awed by the number of birds and their variety of colors that I was able to photograph. Later that same day I learned that the Endangered Species Act had been seriously weakened in preparation for its total elimination. I am reminded of my grandfather who raised fancy pigeons from the early 1900s until the mid century. He immigrated from Pennsylvania to California where he must have witnessed the masses of passenger pigeons flying through the skies. What will my great grandchildren be seeing in the mid twenty first century?

House sparrow getting readyScreech owl soaking up the sunAt least one eye of spring is upon usWhere the wood duck boys areHooded mergansers know where the girls areHi there, heronBath time for BirdiesDoctored recent eagle photo

Short Story: Saw a gold banded, MWR7, bald eagle catch a very big fish. The eagle went into the water trying to hold onto the fish. Turns out, the bald eagle is a success story from the 1980s. He was raised by captive parents, trained by a falconer to fly and hunt on his own, and then released as a first year in 2005. His grandparents were some of the first to be a part of the Massachusetts bald eagle recovery efforts.

The SnatchWowzer!!OOPS!!Swim to shore?Or…… fly outStayin’ AliveThere are more fish in that river.

What a week we have had along the Hudson River. The eagles are enjoying the open water and the snow goose is staying.

“Alice, come back!”Youngster hoping for an easy catch of the dayRight spot, right timeThe fishing has to be better over thereThis may be my New Year’s Day bird – tail feather coloring looks familiarSnow goose trying to get some uninterrupted sunRiver watchers team

There’s one good thing about the polar vortex. It brings a Convocation of Eagles. Please enjoy photos of our recent arrivals. The local residents are protesting with signs that say, “Private Property, NO Trespassing!!”

Fresh sushiMost likely a local bothered by the eagle invasionMy Gal giving me her eagle eyesGorgeous adult in breeding plumageYoungster flying with the big boysKettle of eagles just before a major snow squallThe crows were not happy about this first year parking on their tree.

This 2019 year has started off on the right birds for me. Featured image is an American Tree Sparrow in the freezing cold.

This lovely lady landed in front of me as I was driving to breakfast on New Years Day.An hour later, my red-tailed hawk was hunting on the landfill.Not to be left out, one of my totem birds, a great blue heron, was engaged on a local pond.Of course, the mute swans were around, too.A very few days later, my local traveling companion joined me at my park.The red-shouldered hawk was not to be left out of the photos, even in the pouring rain.

My local resident female eagle and I communed for fifteen minutes. I left. She stayed.And in a severe ice attack, our wintering eagles arrived. I am blessed today.